Detecting low-quality asparaginase for cancer treatment

Point of use detection of low-quality pharmaceutical asparaginase

NIH-funded research University of Notre Dame · NIH-11093733

This study is working on a simple test card to check the quality of a chemotherapy drug called asparaginase, which is important for treating children with blood cancers in sub-Saharan Africa, so they can receive safer and more effective treatment.

Quick facts

Grant typeU01 cooperative agreement
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Notre Dame NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Notre Dame, United States)
Project IDNIH-11093733 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research focuses on developing a point-of-use test card, known as the chemoPAD, to ensure the quality of the chemotherapy drug asparaginase in sub-Saharan Africa. The project aims to create reliable screening methods, including tandem mass spectrometry and colorimetric techniques, to identify low-quality formulations of this critical medication. By improving drug quality monitoring, the research seeks to enhance treatment outcomes for children with hematopoietic cancers. Patients will benefit from safer and more effective chemotherapy options.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are children diagnosed with hematopoietic malignancies who are receiving asparaginase as part of their treatment.

Not a fit: Patients who are not receiving asparaginase or those with cancers not related to hematopoietic malignancies may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved safety and efficacy of chemotherapy treatments for patients with hematopoietic cancers.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown success in developing point-of-use testing methods for drug quality, indicating a promising approach for this project.

Where this research is happening

Notre Dame, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions CancersChildhood Cancers
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.